Adjustable elastic strap brassiere



Nov. 2, 1965 R. scHUsTAcK ADJUSTABLE ELASTIC STRAP BRASSIERE Filed Oct. 29. 1965 United States Patent O 3,215,144 ADJUSTABLE ELASTIC STRAP BRASSKERE Robert Schnstack, New Rochelle, N.Y. (22 W. 19th St., New York, N.Y.) Filed ct. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 319,844 2 Claims. (Ci. 12S-498) This invention relates generally to nether garments for women and more particularly to new and useful improvement-s in an adjustable brassiere.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a body-surrounding brassiere constituting a continuous supporting band about the upper part of the body.

With brassieres as heretofore constructed there was a tendency for the shoulder straps to fall o the shoulder onto the arms of the wearer making it uncomfortable and unsightly. The brassieres also had a tendency to ride up when the arms were elevated. Also with stretch straps there is a tendency for the strap to become elongated after several washings and to lose its ability to support the breast sections of the brassiere. It is an important object of the present invention to provide a brassiere with stretch shoulder straps that sweep from the front of the body of the brassiere to a readily adjustable connection at the back portion of the brassiere to make the garment snugly fit the wearer and provide the necessary uplift for the life of the brassiere.

Another object of the invention is t-o provide a brassiere that will cling always to the upper part of the body of the wearer.

It is also proposed to provide a brassiere wherein elastic material of the body of the brassiere extends from the rear upper edge of the brassiere to under the armpits -of the wearer so that the sides of the brassiere are held snugly against the surface of the body.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming `a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a brassiere of the corselet or long line type embodying one yform of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the shoulder strap and rear panel connection in unfastened condition.

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the strap fastened to the rear panel.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the strap in moved adjusted position.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a brassiere embodying a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear view thereof.

Referring in detail to t-he drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the improved brassiere shown herein is indicate-d generally by the reference numeral 10. The brassiere 10 is a so-called long line type or corselet type brassiere and includes a bodice l2 extending to the waistline ofthe wearer.

The bodice 12 consists of joined front panel sections 14 and 15, and two rear panels 16 and 18. The front panel sections are composed of non-stretchable fabric material. The rear panels 16 and 18 are composed of elastic fabric material stretchable both vertically and horizontally as Viewed in FIGS. l and 2, and as indicated by the crossed double headed arrows in FIG. 2. Each of the rear panels 16 and 18 has a central top tapered extension 20 formed at one side with a slightly curved edge 22 leading inwardly and downwardly deep to a ice straight free end edge 24. The extension at its -other side is formed with a shallow curved edge 26 leading to its meeting and edge with the respective front panel section. The shallow curved edge 26 constitutes the armpit of the brassiere. When the straight free end edges 24 -are secured together as shown in FIG. 2, the curved edges 22 constitute the low back portion of the brassiere. The front and rear panels constituting a tubular cover for the upper part of the body of the wearer.

A narrow fabric band 30 is secured along one long edge thereof to the lower edges of the front and rear panels by means of a line of stitching 32. The bottom free end of the ban-d is scalloped as indicated at 34. The band 30 is formed of elastic fabric material stretchable longitudinally or horizontally as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A narrow tape 36 is positioned centrally of the front panel 14 at the rear thereof, from top to bottom thereof, and is secured in position to the material of the front panel by lines of stitching 38 along the long edges thereof. The tape is given Vertical stability by means.of a stay 40, extending from the top to the bottom and interposed between the tape and the material of the front panel 14. This tape 36 divides the front panel into sections 41 and 42.

Similarly, a narrow tape 44 is positioned over the adjacent long edges of the front section 41 and the rear panel 16 at the Irear thereof, and a similar narrow tape 46 is positioned over the adjacent long edges of the front section 42 and the rear panel 18 at the rear thereof. The tapes 44 and 46 vare secured in position by means of lines of stitching similar to stitching 38, and these tapes are given vertical stability by means of stays 48 and 50, respectively, interposed between the tapes and the material of the front panel 14.

At the top portions of the front sections 41 and 42, the cups 52, 52 for the breasts are formed. Each cup is formed of a lower solid fabric portion 54 and an upper portion 56 of lace material. The bottom edge of the lower fabric portion 54 is curved as indicated at 58 and the upper edge of the upper portion 56 is tapered downwardly on each side of its center as indicated Iat 60, 60. A row of stitching 62 secures the lower fabric portion 54 to the upper lacy portion 56.

A non-elastic V-shaped fabric tape 66 is secured to andnshes off the top inner tapering edges of the cups 5i). The free meeting edges of the rear panels 16 and 1S are provided with hook and eye fastening assemblies indicated at 72 for releasably fastening the free end edges together as shown in FIG. 2.

In accordance with the present invention, elastic longitudinally stretehable straps 74, as indicated by the double headed arrows in FIG. 1, are fastened at one end to the apices of the cups 52 by lines of stitching 76. An important featurev of the invention is the provision of means for adjustably connecting the other ends of the straps to the extensions 20 of the rear panels 16 and 18. The other free end of each stretch strap is turned upon itself, and, inserted between the overlapped portions, is a non-stretchable cotton fabric lining 81. The overlapped portions are stitched across at spaced intervals as indicated at 30 forming transverse loops 82. The extremity of each extension 20 is also formed with a loop 84 with a fabric lining 35 to receive the slotted body of a fastening buckle 86 formed with an offset tongue portion 88 disposed parallel to but spaced from the body and adapted to be inserted into one of the loops 82 of the end of the strap for interlocking with the strap and releasably holding the strap in adjusted elongated position.

By positioning the apices of the rear panels and the apices of the cups as shown and tying the ends of the straps thereto, a stretch in the direction of the length ofthe straps is afforded, the inherent elasticity of the material of the rear panels providing a two-way stretch so that a vertical as well as a horizontal tension is afforded to provide the necessary uplift and to provide snug fit around the top of the body. The length of the straps may readily be adjusted by inserting the tongue portion 88 of the buckle 86 in the desired loop 82.

The modified form of brassiere 10 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 differs from the brassiere 16 of FIG. 1 in that the front panel 14 and rear panels 16 and 18 are short, being sufliciently long to cover the top portion of the body only, the bodice portion of brassiere 10 being omitted. Furthermore, vertical stability not being necessary, the stays of brassiere 10 are replaced by a front seam 40 and side seams 44 and 46. The bottom band 30 is fastened to the front and rear panels by zig-zag stitching 32.

In all other respects, the brassiere itl is similar tok brassiere10 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A `brassiere comprising a bodice having a front panel of nonelastic fabric material with elongated side edges, rear panels of elastic fabric material secured to the side edges of the front panel, said panels constituting a tubular cover for the upper part of the body of the wearer, cups of nonelastic fabric material for the breasts of the wearer at the top of the front panel at both sides of the center thereof, said cups being secured at the lower edges thereof to said panel, and a pair of elastic shoulder straps, one end of each of the straps being secured to the top of each cup, the other end of each of said straps being adjustably fastened to the top of a rear panel, said adjustable fastening consisting of a loop on the top of each rear panel, and a buckle secured in each loop, said buckle having an offset tongue portion exteriorly of the loop, and a plurality of loops on the free end of each strap, adapted to coact with the offset tongue portion on the buckle.

2. A brassiere comprising a bodice having an elongated front panel of nonelastic fabric material with elongated side edges, elongated rear panels of elastic fabric material secured to the side edges of the front panel, said rear panels having central extensions at the top center thereof, said panels constituting a tubular cover for the upper part of the body of the wearer above the Waistline, cups of nonelastic fabric material for the breasts of the wearer said cups secured to the top of the front panels at each side of the center thereof, said cups each having an upwardly tapering central portion, and a pair of shoulder straps of elastic fabric material, one end of each of the straps being secured to a projecting center of each cup, the other end being adjustably fastened to the top central extensions of the rear panels, said adjustable fastening consisting of a buckle carried on the top of each central extension of the rear panels and secured thereto, and a plurality of loops on the free ends of the straps adapted to receive a portion of the buckle, wherein a nonelastic stili? cotton fabric lining is inserted in the loop on the extremity of the top central extension of each rear panel and secured thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,115,398 4/38 Rosenthal 128-510 2,239,056 4/ 41 Schiffer 12S-465 2,472,764 6/49 Shulman 12S-502 2,512,215 6/50 Rosenthal et al 128-465 2,520,225 8/ 50 Scott-Elliot 128-491 2,816,293 12/57 Graf 128-496 3,144,869 8/64 Blair 128--498 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

2. A BRASSIVE COMPRISING A BODICE HAVING AN ELONGATED FRONT PANEL OF NONELASTIC FABRIC MATERIAL WITH ELONGATED SIDE EDGES, ELONGATED REAR PANELS OF ELASTIC FABRIC MATERIAL SECURED TO THE SIDE EDGES OF THE FRONT PANEL, SAID REAR PANELS HAVING CENTRAL EXTENSIONS AT THE TOP CENTER THEREOF, SAID PANELS CONSTITUTING A TUBULAR COVER FOR THE UPPER PART OF THE BODY OF THE WEARER ABOVE THE WAISTLINE, CUPS OF NONELASTIC FABRIC MATERIAL FOR THE BREAST OF THE WEARER SAID CUPS SECURED TO THE TOP OF THE FRONT PANELS AT EACH SIDE OF THE CENTER THEREOF, SAID CUPS EACH HAVING AN UPWARDLY TAPERING CENTRAL PORTION, AND A PAIR OF SHOULDER STRAPS OF ELASTIC FABRIC MATERIAL, ONE END OF EACH OF THE STRAPS BEING SECURED TO A PROJECTING CENTER OF EACH CUP, THE OTHER END BEING ADJUSTABLY FASTENED TO THE TOP CENTRAL EXTENSIONS OF THE REAR PANELS, SAID ADJUSTABLE FASTENING CONSISTING OF A BUCKLE CARRIED ON THE TOP OF EACH CENTRAL EXTENSION OF THE REAR PANELS AND SECURED THERETO, AND A PLURALITY OF LOOPS ON THE FREE ENDS OF THE STRAPS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PORTION OF THE BUCKLE, WHEREIN A NONELASTIC STIFF COTTON FABRIC LINING IS INSERTED IN THE LOOP ON THE EXTREMITY OF THE TOP CENTRAL EXTENSION OF EACH REAR PANEL AND SECURED THERETO. 